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The History of Literature
312 Yukio Mishima
Mar 1, 2021
Renowned Japanese novelist and nationalist Yukio Mishima is the focus of this episode. The host delves into Mishima's life, exploring his quest for identity and his impact on literature and society. The discussion covers Mishima's early life, his belief in the aesthetic value of actions, and his exploration of societal norms and his own identity. The episode also highlights Mishima's artistic achievements, his dramatic death by seppuku, and expresses gratitude to listeners supporting the podcast.
59:15
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Quick takeaways
- Yukio Mishima's life and writings explored themes of death, beauty, and the intersection of fantasy and reality, showcasing his belief that art and life should be intertwined.
- Mishima's suicide was a deeply symbolic act that represented his longing for Japan to restore its cultural values and overcome the influence of the West, reflecting the clash between tradition and modernity in Japanese society.
Deep dives
Yukio Mishima's Fascination with Death and Beauty
Yukio Mishima, a famous Japanese novelist, had a lifelong obsession with death and beauty. From a young age, Mishima was captivated by theater and the blurring of fantasy and reality. He believed that art and life should be intertwined and that actions could hold aesthetic value. Mishima's writings often explored themes of youth, death, and the embodiment of ideals. In his novel Confessions of a Mask, he delved into his own experiences of hiding his homosexuality and the struggle to fit societal expectations. As he got older, Mishima turned himself into a personalized version of an art object, focusing on martial arts, bodybuilding, and image. He saw himself as a warrior, seeking to be known as a man of action rather than just a writer. Mishima's life culminated in his meticulously planned suicide in 1970, which he viewed as the perfect culmination of his ideals and an artistic expression of death and beauty.
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